Bill Nunn, Do The Right Thing's Radio Raheem, Has Died

staff@people.com (Blake Bakkila)
Updated
Bill Nunn, Do The Right Thing's Radio Raheem, Has Died

Bill Nunn, best known for his role as Radio Raheem in Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing has died. He was 62.

Lee took to Instagram several times on Saturday to share his condolences and love for his friend.

"My Dear Friend, My Dear Morehouse Brother- Da Great Actor Bill Nunn As Most Of You Know Him As Radio Raheem Passed Away This Morning In His Hometown Of Pittsburgh," he captioned an old photo of Nunn. "Long Live Bill NUNN. RADIO RAHEEM Is Now RESTING IN POWER. RADIO RAHEEM WILL ALWAYS BE FIGHTING DA POWERS DAT BE. MAY GOD WATCH OVER BILL NUNN."

My Dear Friend, My Dear Morehouse Brother- Da Great Actor Bill Nunn As Most Of You Know Him As Radio Raheem Passed Away This Morning In His Hometown Of Pittsburgh. Long Live Bill NUNN. RADIO RAHEEM Is Now RESTING IN POWER. RADIO RAHEEM WILL ALWAYS BE FIGHTING DA POWERS DAT BE. MAY GOD WATCH OVER BILL NUNN.

A photo posted by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on Sep 24, 2016 at 10:56am PDT



In another post, Lee showed an image with "Love Raheem" and "Bill Nunn Rest In Power" written on it. After a long note about his friend, he wrote, "Raheem I love you bruh..."

Radio Raheem. Let me tell you the story of Right Hand, Left Hand. It's a tale of good and evil. Hate! It was with this hand that Cane iced his brother. Love! These five fingers, they go straight to the soul of man. The right hand: the hand of love. The story of life is this: static. One hand is always fighting the other hand, and the left hand is kicking much ass. I mean, it looks like the right hand, Love is finished. But hold on, stop the presses the right hand is coming back. Yeah, he got the left hand on the ropes, now, that's right. Yea, Boom, it's a devastating right and Hate is hurt, he's down. Ooh! Ooh! Left-Hand Hate KOed by Love. If I love you, I love you. But if I hate you...Mookie: there it is, Love and Hate. Raheem I love you bruh...

A photo posted by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on Sep 24, 2016 at 12:04pm PDT



Lee posted an additional photo of the shoes Nunn wore in his iconic portrayal of Radio Raheem. Lee's groundbreaking film celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2014. Nunn had his film debut in Lee's 1988 musical-comedy School Daze and had roles in the director's films Mo' Better Blues and He Got Game.

In 2007, the American Film Institute voted Do The Right Thing the No. 96 Greatest Movie of All Time, the first time it was included on the list. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama even saw the movie on their first date.